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Hundreds Missing, Dozens Dead in California Wildfires

The latest news from the California wildfires has hundreds
of people still missing and over 80 confirmed dead, after the devastating
California Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire swept through the large portions of the
state. Searchers are combing through areas to find and identify anyone they
can. As the death toll continues to grow, experts say the Camp Fire is the most
destructive wildfire in California history.

The fire quickly spread, becoming the most devastating in
California's history both in terms of lives lost and structures damaged. Forest
areas the size of a football field burned every second and within five hours,
the fire was up to 1,000 acres. By the next morning, more than 70,000 acres
were burned, and Paradise had been demolished.

As
of November 25, 2018, officials declared 85 people dead, with over 200 still
unaccounted for. Meanwhile, more than 13,000 homes have burned and over
150,000 acres destroyed in the fire. Officials hope many of those people who
are not accounted for are at shelters or do not have access to phones after
escaping the area. Many may not be aware they've been reported missing. It
could, however, be months before final fatality numbers are issued, and there
is a possibility the remains of some victims will never be found.

"It is overwhelming, I
don't have any word to describe it," Butte County Sheriff and Coroner Kory
Honea told CNN. "This is unprecedented. No one has had to deal with this
magnitude that caused so much destruction and regrettably so much death."

Honea told The New York Times that in some cases, all
rescuers have found of people's remains are bone fragments. Some officials
predict that the number of fatalities could rise into the hundreds as more
bodies are located, with searchers expecting to continue looking for remains
until spring of 2019.

Given the extent of the damage, even people whose homes have
not been destroyed may not be able to go home for a long time.

Reports suggest the fire may have started after an issue
with Southern California Edison's Chatsworth substation. Two minutes before the
first reports of the Woolsey Canyon fire, Southern California Edison reported
an outage at that substation. Officials with the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection are investigating what caused the Woolsey Fire.

Residents Help Each Other Flee Flames Across California

In addition to the countless firefighters and responders who
have worked tirelessly to stop or slow the fire and save lives, other heroes
have stepped in to help out their fellow residents—and to rescue beloved pets
that were left behind as people fled.

When 93-year-old Margaret Newsum left her Magalia home with
only her medicine, vital supplies, and a walker, she was rescued by Dane Ray
Cummings, who drove a garbage truck and stopped to help her.

Animal lovers have stepped in to help the thousands of
animals that the fires displaced. Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control
has 700 animals in its care. Included
in those 700 animals are more than 500 horses, 9 cows, and a tortoise.
Allison Cardona, the agency's deputy director of operations, said at least
10,000 more pets are in need of help thanks to the Woolsey Fire and Camp Fire.

"It's hard to wrap your
head around what a disaster this is—for people and animals," Cardona said
to NBC News. "Anything that impacts people, impacts their animals."

Animal rescue agencies and shelters took in horses, cows,
birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, and chickens since the fire started, while
other individuals have also taken in displaced animals. Dan Sauvageau, who has
a large truck and livestock trailer, spent days picking up dogs and cats who
needed rescue.

Lawyers Investigate Utility
Companies Over California Wildfires

Leading
the team are Diane Marger Moore and Ronald L. M. Goldman both Board Certified by the
prestigious National
Board of Trial Advocacy as Civil Trial Advocates and Civil
Pretrial Practice Advocates. Diane Marger Moore is one of the most experienced
fire trial lawyers in the country, with 40+ years of experience. Ronald
Goldman, has over 50 years of experience handling catastrophic personal injury
and wrongful death cases.

Michael L. Baum, a Malibu resident displaced by
the Woolsey fire and our firm’s managing partner, has litigated thousands of
personal injury and wrongful death cases, including the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire
in Puerto Rico.

We
are also working with renowned environmental attorney, Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr., and fire-impacted resident and respected trial lawyer, Brian R. Strange. Baum Hedlund has also called
upon expert certified fire investigators Michael
Vergon and James
Finneran to assist in the investigation of the entities responsible
for causing these deadly fires. Both Mr. Vergon and Mr. Finneran have many
years of experience investigating the origin and causes of fires, particularly
those caused by electrical sources.

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